New Jersey FIT: Future In Transportation

Context Sensitive Design

Context
Sensitive Design (CSD)
is a community-based
approach to planning
and designing transportation
projects based on active
and early collaboration
with communities. CSD
and Context Sensitive "Solutions" (CSS)
look at the role transportation
plays in enhancing
communities, rural
areas and scenic environments.
Resulting projects
respect the community's
natural, cultural and
historic resources,
therefore, enhancing
a

sense of place. The focus
is not only on the road
itself, but on how it fits
into the surrounding community
and helps to achieve a
future vision. The input
of those who use the place
on a regular basis is the
key to the CSD and CSS
process.

In 2001, the New Jersey
Department of Transportation
(NJDOT) adopted a context
sensitive design policy
to scope, design and build
projects that incorporate
appropriate safety measures,
environmental stewardship,
aesthetics and community
sensitive planning and
design. CSD ensures that
the community has input
early and often in project
planning and development
and that flexible design
standard is part of the
solution to complement
the surrounding environment
and improve existing communities.

NJFIT supports
designing roads to
fit the surrounding
area and to improve
a sense of place by
representing the unique
qualities of the communities
they serve. CSD projects
lead to "place
making" by encouraging
private investment
to community revitalization
and other economic
development efforts. NJFIT works
with communities developing
plans and visions for
transportation projects
that support the community.

This main street illustrates
many of the characteristics
of good design.

Prescriptions
Actively seek public involvement
early and continuously
The people who work,
live and use the space
in question are the most
familiar with it. Their
ideas should lead the
planning process and
they should be an active
part in developing a
vision for the area.
Early public participation
allows a variety of perspectives
to be considered and
help identify potential
problems.

Develop designs that meet
the needs of specific locations
CSD creates individualized
solutions for each place
according to the project's
context and design objectives.
By doing this the community
can achieve harmony and
preserve natural resources.

Preserve and enhance historically,
culturally or architecturally
significant features
The transportation infrastructure
should actively preserve
and reinforce the valued
civic treasures of the
community.

Work collaboratively and
build partnerships
Draw from many different
professionals' expertise,
including traffic engineers,
design professionals, urban
planners and city officials,
to work together. Their
awareness of how their
goals and interests interact
keep the project clear
and the process more streamlined.

Design streets and roads
to support the function
they serve

If
the road is used for
regional travel, it should include as
few curb-cuts and intersections
as possible. Its purpose
should be to expedite
through traffic.

If
the road is a commercial
street, it should be
designed to encourage
drivers to pull over
and shop. Making streets
more "local," with
slower traffic, sidewalks
and bike lanes encourages
pedestrian activity.

If
the road is in a residential
neighborhood, it should encourage slower
traffic by reducing lane
widths and adding signage.
It should also provide
safe routes to school
where possible.

Use the flexibility contained
in the current design guidelines
In 1997, the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) published
Flexibility in Highway Design,
a guide that provides ideas
and examples of ways to balance
safety and mobility with
environmental, cultural and
historical concerns. This
guide provides a good start
for the context sensitive
planning of any project.
Additional guidance on the
use of flexible design techniques
is provided through the Smart
Transportation Guidebook
developed by NJDOT in partnership
with the Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation (PennDOT).